To evaluate the diagnostic performance of HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) for acute or recent HCV infection among people with HIV-1 (PWH).
Key Findings:
Four studies met inclusion criteria, involving 1015 participants and 1796 tests.
Sensitivity of HCVcAg for diagnosing acute HCV infection ranged from 87.1% to 100%.
Specificity ranged from 95.0% to 100%.
Pooled sensitivity was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.78–0.98) and specificity was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.97–1.00).
Positive predictive value was 0.44 (95% CI, 0.18–1.00) and negative predictive value was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99–1.00).
Interpretation:
HCVcAg demonstrates strong diagnostic performance for identifying acute or recent HCV infection in PWH, suggesting its potential integration into screening protocols.
Limitations:
Limited number of studies included in the meta-analysis.
Potential variability in study populations and methodologies.
Conclusion:
HCVcAg is a promising diagnostic tool for acute HCV infection among PWH, supporting its use in HCV screening strategies.
